Advert For J. Bell's Boot & Shoe Store

The 1800s saw the shoe becoming more and more of a fashion statement, especially among the rich. During the early part of the period flat shoes and Grecian style sandals were popular but from the 1830s after crinolines became popular, the boot was the essential item of female footwear (largely because when the crinolines swung, they exposed the ankle and boots prevented any embarrassment). After the high heals of previous periods Victorian shoes were very low but heals did return by 1870 although they were never higher than 2 inches.